Corn-planter.



Np. 7n|,7|2. Patantpd June 3., I902.

' L. P. GRAHAM.

CORN PLANTEB.

(Application filed. Oct. 11, 1.901.) I (No Model.) 7 a Sheets-.-$heat I.

Zflifrzcaaea. Invgnzof M 99m No. 701,7!2. 1 Patented June, 3, I902. P. GRAHAM.

v CORN PLANTEB. (Application filed Oct. 11, 1901.)

(No Model.) 3 Sheets- 8h! 2.

lfnvenivvi" No. 70l,7l2. Patented June 3, I902;

' I L. P. GRAHAM;

CORN PLANTER.

'i (Application filed Oct. 11, 1901. (No llodal I 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

'wiizz ce 665.

UNITED STATES I PATENT OFFICE.

LEVI P. GRAHAM, OF DECATUR, ILLINOIS.

QIQRNQQPLIANTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 701,712, dated June 3, 1902.

Application filed October 11, 1901. $erial No. 78,383. (No model.)

city of Decatur, county of Macon, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Corn-Planters, of which the following is a specification.

The improvement comprises several inventions dependent on each other and all contributing to the single result of properly planting corn under difierent conditions.

The inventionsare exemplified in the structure hereinafter described, and they are defined in the appended claims.

The several objects of the invention are:

First. To provide for forcibly expelling the seed from the second drop.

Second. To provide improved second-drop mecha'nism adapted to be used effectively while check-rowing and ineffectively while drilling; j I g Third. To providearock-shaft for the dropping mechanism adapted to be rocked forward slowly while the planter is traveling be-' tween cross-rows and returnedquickly and to furnish means for either catching the shaft at thetermination of its forward movement and holding it until it is released by some outside influence, as a checkrow wire, or permitting it to rock back instantaneously as soon as the limit of the forward rock is The rock-shaft is designed to ac-.

reached. tuate first-drop mechanism that measures off one grain at a time at regularintervals, and in check-rowing these grains accumulate in the second drop until discharged from the planter by the check-row mechanism. In drilling the grains fall to the ground as soon as they are discharged from the first drop, and the rock shaft moves slowly forward until 'a number of grains equal to ahill, three on anaverage,

are dropped and then rocks back quickly to begin another for\vardmovement.

Fourth. To provide a seed-plate that will compensate for the time lost in rocking the; plate-actuating shaft backward while drill-" ing and discharge the grains at regular intervals regardless of the intermittent action of the shaft.

Fifth. To provide for catching the rock shaft at its forward position when the planter is used as a drill and holding it rocked for- I gages.

ward while turning around at the ends of the field.

Sixth. To throw the work of operating both the first drop and the second drop onto the planter-'wheels,-thereby relieving the side stress resulting'from pull on the check-row knots, lessening the work and wear of the check-row wire, andmakin g it easy to operate the foot-drop mechanism.

Seventh. To provide means for connecting the rock-shaft with a continuously-rotating wheel and detaching the shaft from the wheel at the termination of the forward motion of the shaft. 1

Eighth. To prevent the roclpshaft from engaging the continuously-rotating wheel during the backward motion of theshaft.

In the drawings forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a'plan of a planter embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a vertical section through one of the seedboxes and the shank thereof. 1 Fig. 3 is a plan of aseedplate and a tilt-plate for forcing the corn toward the seed-cells and uptilting it into the cells. Fig. lis a plan of the seed-plate,showing thereon a pin used to impart rotary motion to the tilt-plate. Fig. 5 is a plan of the under surface of the tilt-plate, showing therein the rib that the pin of the seed-plate en- Fig. 6 is a detail of the cut-off. Fig. 7 is a vertical section through a shank, showing the second drop in theact of expelling a hill of corn fromthe planter. Fig. 8 isa section through a shank, showing how the second drop is made inoperative by swinging back the valve thereof. Fig. 9 is a detail of the means used to throw the rock-shaft backward while drilling and to both hold the shaft rocked forward and assist the check-row mechanism in giving backward motion when the planter is used to plant in check-rows. In 1 this figure are shown the conditions that exist when the planter is used to plant in checkrows and the rock-shaft is rocked forward.

Fig. 10 is similar to Fig. 9 except that in Fig.

10 the conditions that exist when the planter is used as a drill are represented. ,FigJll is the same as Fig. 9 except that in Fig. ll the shaft is rocked backward. Figs. 12, 13, and 14 are details of the means used to rock the rock-shaft forward. In Fig. 12 the shaft is rocked backward. In Fig. 13 the shaft is rocked forward, but not disengaged from the wheel, and in Fig. 14% the shaft is rocked forward and disengaged from the wheel. Fig. 15 is a detail of the pawl and ratchet used to impart motion from the rock-shaft to the seed-wheels. Fig. 16 is a detail of the means used to hold the drill mechanism out of operation while turning around.

The coveringwheels of the planter are shown at 1 and the axle-shaft therefor at 2. A frame L is mounted on the axle-shaft and pivotallyconnected at its front end to a runner-frame composed of bars 5 and (3. The tongue is attached to the center of the front frame, the check-row heads are secured to the ends of the front frame, and the seedboxes 11 are mounted thereon in front of the covering-Wheels. A rock-shaft 3 is journaled in the front frame under the seedboxes, and it carries a loosely-journaled sprocket-wheel 9. A sprocket-wheel 7 is fixed onto the axleshaft 2 or connected with one of the covering-wheels, and a chain 8 imparts motion from wheel 7 to wheel 9. A lever 13 is pivoted at 14 011 a bracket secured to the rear frame. It has a foot-bearing 15 at its rear end, and it also has a foot-bearing 16 on its front end. An arm 18 is fastened onto the rock-shaft, and a rod 17 connects the footlever with the arm. The bearing 15 is depressed when the lever is used as a footdrop, and force is applied to the end 16 of the lever when the planter is used as a drill and it is desired to put the drill mechanism out of operation while turning around.

The shanks 20 are provided with runners 1 9 or other furrow-forming appliances, and they have cross-bars 26 at their rear sides. Each cross-bar is slotted in its upper edge, as shown at 27. A valve 21 constitutes a part of the back wall of the shank, its lower end 22 is adapted to close against the lower end of the front wall of the shanlgit has a shelf or inward extension 23 above its lower end, and it is hinged at its upper end. A rod 28 is pivotally connected with the valve at a point opposite cross-bar 26, it is adapted to rest in the slot of the cross-bar, and it has an enlarged head 29 on its extended end. A spiral spring 30 fits loosely on rod 28, and when the planter is used to drop in check-rows the spring fits between the cross-bar and the valve, as shown in Figs. 2 and 7. Vhen the planter is used as a drill, the rod is raised out of the slot of the cross-bar, the spring is moved against the head of the rod, and the rod is replaced in the slot with the spring outside the cross-bar and the valve open, as shown in Fig. 8. An arm 24 is fastened onto shaft 3 inside the shank, and a plunger 25 is swung from the arm and extended downward into the shank. The first-drop mechanism is actuated as the shaft 3 rocks forward and the plunger rises.

The shelf 23 bears against the plunger except when the plunger is at its lowest point, and grain falling from the seed box is arrested by the shelf. When the plunger is in the position shown in Fig. 7, the shelf is forced out of contact with the plunger and the grain detained thereon falls below the shelf. As the plunger rises the grain below the shelf is forced into the pocket below the end of the plunger preparatory to beingdischarged at a subsequent operation.

The bottom 31 of the seedbox 11 has a discharge-opening 32 for the grain contained in the box. A gear-wheel journaled in the bottom of the seedbox is driven by a gear-wheel 34 on rock-shaft 3. A seed-plate 36 is carried by the gear-wheel It rotates with wheel 33, and it has seed-cells 36 in its perimeter of a size to each receive a grain of corn. A tiltplate 37 rests on the seed-plate,eccentric therewith, and its perimeter is beveled, as shown at 38. The beveled tilt-plate rotates with the seed-plate, and in this instance a pin projects upward from the seed-plate and bears against a rib 40 on the under side of the tiltplate to force the tilt-plate to move with 'the seed-plate. The tilt-plate is smaller in diameter than the seed-plate, and it is set with one of its sides close to the cells of the seed-plate, somewhat as shown in Fig. 3, and this leaves a considerable part of the seed-plate exposed on the opposite side of the box. The tilt-plate has a central pin 39, projecting upward eccentric with the seed-plate, and a cover-plate formed on arm 41 provides a'pivot-al bearing for the pin 39. The arm 41 is secured to the seedbox above the seed-plate, and it constitutes a housing for the cut-off 42. The cutolf has vertical motion, which is resisted by a spring 43, and it is rounded on its lower end to partly enter the seed-cells. The cut-off occupies a part of the space above the seedplate left exposed by the eccentricity of the tilt-plate.

The action of the mechanism used to impart motion to the drop-plate is intermittent, and the plate is given a one-fourth rotation at each operation. The planter travels about three feet during a quarter-rotation of the seed-plate, or nearly the distance between rows of corn. The plate has three cells in each quarter-division, and so a grain is dropped from the seedbox at about each foot of travel of the planter. After three grains are dropped the rotation of the seed-plate stops temporarily, while the rock-shaft moves backward with a quick motion and makes a new connection with the wheel 9. The back motion of the shaft takes a little time. During such back motion of the shaft the planter is moving on, and in drilling the corn it is desirable to con1- pensate for the lost time, so as to drop all the grains at about the same distance apart. To

attain this result, I place the cells of the different divisions of the seed-plate close together at the conjunction of the divisions, or, in other words, place the end cells of each division nearer the end cells of contiguous divisions than the distance between the cells of (See Fig. 3, where the divisions a division.

IIO

of the seed-plate are indicated by broken lines.) Through this provision when three grains have been dropped and the rock-shaft moves backward to ree'ngage the lift-wheel the shorter distance traveled by the seedplate in carrying the last cell of one division away from the discharge-opening and bringing the first cell of the next division to it compensates for the time lost in swinging the rock-shaft backward. If more or fewer cells are used in each division of the seed-plate or if the number of divisions is varied, the arrangementmay still be proportionately the same. 1

The sprocket-wheel 9 has internal ratchetteeth 9, and it is recessed back of the ratchetrim to receive an arm 49, which is fastened onto the rock-shaft 3. pivoted onto the swinging end of arm 49 inside the ratchet-rim, its end 51 is adapted to engage the ratchet-teeth, and its opposite end is weighted to bring end 51 into mesh with the teeth when the rock-shaft is thrown backward, as shown in Fig. 12. A pin 52 projects laterally from the engaging end of the catchfinger and extends beyond the face of wheel 9. A throw-out arm 53 is pivoted at 54 to a bracket 57. It extends rearward above the path of pin 52. It has a-zstop extension 55, that limits its downward swing, and it also has a stop extension 56, that limits its upward swing. The stop 55 strikes against a crossbar 5, and the stop 56 strikes against an extension 58 of bracket 57; but it is evident that the swing of the'throw-out arm may be limited in various ways;

As the catch-finger is carried backward by the teeth of the wheel it takes the arm 49 and the rock-shaft with it, actuating the first-drop mechanism of theplanter and putting under tension a spring that is used to rock the shaft backward and actuate the second drop. The work imposed on the rock-shaft during its forward swing develops considerable friction between the end of the catch-finger and the ratchet-tooth,'and the pin 52 lifts the throwout arm as the shaft rocks forward until the limit of the upward swing of the throw-out arm is reached, as shown in Fig. 13. At this juncture the downward-extended part of the under surface of the throw-out arm presents an unyielding barrier to'further progress of pin 52, and further rotation of the wheelforces the catch-finger out of contact with the ratchet-tooth. As soon as the catch finger is detached it is pressed forward by weight of the throw-out-arm and the throw-out arm drops to the position shown in Fig. 14. The under surface of the rearwardextension of the throw-out arm forms a curve-approximately concentric withan arc ofthe wheel 9, and as the shaft is rocked backward to the position shown in Fig. 12 the weight of the throw-out arm presses on pin 52 and holds the catch-finger out of contact with the ratchet-teeth for nearly the entire backward movement. As the shaft rocks backward A catch-finger 50 is the weighted end of the catch-finger acquires centrifugal force sufficient to hold the engagin g end of the catch-finger out of contact with the ratchet-teeth from the time such engaging end travels from contact with the throw-out arm until the shaft stops its backward rock, and when the shaft stops its backward motion the inertia of the finger, augmented by the weight of its non-engaging end, causes the finger to swing on its pivot on arm 49 and bring end 51 into engagement with a tooth of the ratchet-rim.

When the planter is used to plant in checkrows, the rock-shaft is caught in its forward position and held with the seed expelling plungers raised until a cross-row is reached; butin' drilling the shaft rocks backward as soon as it is released. .The means used to hold the plungers raised and to rock the shaft backward is represented in Figs. 9, 10, and 11, and it comprises an arm 44, fastened to shaft 3, a bent link 45, pivotally connected with the swinging end of the arm, anda spring 48, connected with the link' and fastened in this instance to the under side of tongue 10. An eyebolt 47 forms a bearing for the front end of link 45, and it is adjustable vertically in the tongue. A shoulder 46 onthe link 45 engages the eyebolt when the shaft 3 is rocked backward and takes the stress of the spring.

When the eyebolt is in the position shown A in Fig. 9 and the shaft'is rocked to its forward position, the stress of the spring is exerted above the center of the shaft and a dead-center lock is formed which holds the plungers raised until a forked lever 12 encounters aknot on a check-row wire or until pressure isapplied to end 15 of the footlever. As soon as the shaft is rocked backward far enough to break the dead-center lock the spring draws arm 44 to the position shown in Fig. 11 and forces the plungers 25' to the position shown in Fig. 7. When' the planter is used as a drill, the eyebolt is lowered, as shown in Fig. 10, until the stress of spring 48 on arm 44 is below the center of shaft 3 at all times. A dead-center lock is thus avoided, and as soon as the catch-finger is released from the wheel the shaft is at once rocked backward by the spring. On reaching the end of the field in drilling corn foot pressure may be applied to end 16 of lever 13, carrying the rock-shaft'forward until the catch-finger is out of contact with the wheel, and the pressure may be continued until a turn is made.

The motion of the rock-shaft may be imparted to the seed-wheels'in any desirable manner, and in Fig. 15 I have shown an arm 60, a pawl 61, and a ratchet-wheel 59, which may be used to effect that'result.

The. adjustable eyebolt (shown in Figs. 9, 10, and 11) is merely typical of means for shifting the pull of the spring, so as to make a dead-center lock when the planter is used to plant in check-rows and to'prevent'the formation of the dead-center look when the planter is used as a drill, and various mechanical equivalents for such bolt will be readily obvious to persons skilled in ma chinery.

The means for carrying grains of corn into line with the path of the cells of the seedwheel and uptilting them into the cells is shown and described with more particularity in application No. 90,946, filed January 23, 1902, and is also claimed in said application.

I claim- 1. A seed-disk having cells each adapted to receive a single grain of corn, the cells being grouped in accordance with the number of grains required in a hill and the distance between adjoining cells of different groups being less than the distance between the cells of a group.

2. In a convertible check-row and drill planter, the combination of a hollow shank, a seed-expelling plunger in the shank, a valveplate pivoted in the rear part of the shank with its lower end normally closing against the front wall of the shank below the plunger when the plunger is raised, and means for holding the valve-plate out of contact with the plunger and the front wall of the shank to convert the planter into a drill.

3. In a convertible check-row and drill planter, the combination of a hollow shank, aseed-expelling plunger in the shank, a valveplate pivoted in the rear part of the shank with its lower end normally closing against the front wall of the shank below the plunger when the plunger is raised, an inward extension on the valve normally closing against the lower end of the plunger when the plunger is raised, and means for holding the valve-plate out of contact with the plunger and the front wall of the shank to convert the planter into a drill.

-t. In a convertible checkrow and drill planter, the combination of a hollow shank, a seed-expelling plunger in the shank, a valveplate pivoted in the rear part .of the shank, means for holding the lower end of the valveplate in position to coact with the plunger in retaining the seed and discharging it at intervals, and means for holding the valve-plate clear of the seed-expelling plunger while drilling the seed.

5. In a second drop for planters, the combination of a hollow shank, a seed-expelling plunger in the front part of the shank, a valve plate in the shank in the rear of the plunger, a slotted cross-bar on the rear of the shank in the rear of the valve-plate, a rod pivotally connected with the valve-plate and adapted to rest in the slot of the cross-bar, a head on the. extended end of the rod, and a spiral spring on the rod adapted to fit between the cross-bar and the valve-plate to hold the plate in cooperation with the plunger, or between the head of the rod and the cross-bar to hold the plate out of contact with the plunger.

. 6. In a convertible check-row planter and drill, the combination of seed-dropping mechanism, a rock-shaft to actuate the seed-dropping mechanism, an arm on the rock-shaft, a potential-energy appliance exerting stored force lengthwise of the arm when the shaft is rocked forward in check-rowing, and means for shifting the stress of the potential-energy appliance to prevent the formation of a deadcenter lock when the planter is used as a drill.

7. In a planter, the combination of seeddropping mechanism, a rock-shaft to actuate the seed-dropping mechanism, an arm on the rock-shaft, a bent link connecting with the arm, a shiftable support for the extended end of the link, and a spring connected with the link.

8. In a planter, the combination of a rockshaft, planting mechanism actuated by the rock-shaft, a wheel journaled on the rockshaft, means for rotating the wheel, a catch on the rock-shaft adapted to engage the wheel, a throw-out to disengage the catch from the wheel at the termination of the motion of the rock-shaft in one direction, and means for rocking the shaft in the contrary direction.

9. In a planter, the combination of a rockshaft, planting mechanism actuated by the rock-shaft, a wheel journaled on the rockshaft, means for rotating the wheel, a catch on the rock-shaft adapted to engage the wheel, a throw-out to disengage the catch from the wheel at the termination of the motion of the rock-shaft in one direction, means for rocking the shaft in the contrary direction, and a yielding presser to hold the catch out of engagement with the wheel while the shaft is rocking backward.

10. In a planter, the combination of a rockshaft, planting mechanism actuated by the rock-shaft, a wheel journaled on the rockshaft, means for rotating the wheel, a throwout to disengage the catch from the wheel at the termination of the motion of the rockshaft in one direction, an arm on the rockshaft, a spring exerting pressure lengthwise of the arm when the throw-out acts on the catch, and means for giving the rock-shaft initial reverse motion to break the dead-center lock established by the potential force of the spring and the arm.

11.. In a planter, the combination of a seedplate having cells each adapted to hold a single grain of corn, a rock-shaft adapted to impart intermittent rotary motion in one direction'to the seed-plate and discharge a plurality of grains consecutively at each forward rock, and means for giving the rock-shaft a comparatively slow forward movement and a quicker return.

In testimony whereof I sign my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

LEVI P. GRAHAM.

WVitnesses:

E. S. MCDONALD, ROSA VOELCKER. 

